Eichaed lee waethen



(No Model.)

R. L. WARTHEN.

COTTON OULTIVATOR AND HOE COMBINED.

IHI

lllllllllllllllllllllll Patented June 23,1885.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE? RICHARD LEE WARTHEN, OF SANDERSVILLE, GEORGIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application filed April 15, 1885.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD LEE WARTHEN, of Sandersville, in the county of Washington and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cotton Cultivator and Hoe Combined; and I do hereby declare that the following is a .full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to cottonchoppers, and is an improvement, more particularly, in that class in which the machine is drawn along in the direction of the rows, and carries a cutter which reciprocates or swings transversely of the row, and chops out the cotton at regular intervals. My invention is not, however, strictly limited to this class of machines.

I seek to produce a machine simple in construction and durable in use, which shall be positive in its action and easy and effective in its operation. My invention therefore con sists of a suitable frame mounted on carryingwheels, a cam on the axle or on one of the wheels, combined with a gravity bar or lever pivoted at one end and carrying the cutter at the other, and having an anti friction Wheel journaled at an intermediate point in proper position to be acted upon by the cam, for the purpose of giving vertical movement to the bar, whereby the cutter is operated.

My invention further consists of the subordinate details of construction by which the successful accomplishment of my objects is assured, all of which will be fully described hereinafter, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section through the frame and axle, showing some of the parts in side elevation. Fig. 2represents the machine in plan. Fig. 3 is a rear view of a section on line a; w of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, A A represent the frame of the machine, composed of side, front, and rear bars of any suitable material having sufficient strength for the purpose. In this frame, and a little to the front,are journaled the carrying disks or wheels or a, which are preferably formed integral with or secured firmly to the axle, so as to rotate in unison therewith. In the drawings this portion of the ma- Patent No. 320,731, dated June 23, 1885.

(No model.)

of a perfect circle described from the center ofthe drum or disks, the purpose of which will be referred to hereinafter.

' The bar or lever C is preferably made in two parts, secured together by bolts, screws, or rivets. It is pivoted in the front portion of the supporting-frame at the points 5 by means of the rod or bar 6, passing through the ears 7 7 of the bar 0. This bar extends centrally from front to rear over the frame, and the pivotingears are formed 011 the ends of transversely-extending arms 8 8 of the bar, which construction brings the ears close agai nst the inner face of the side bars, whereby the bar is steadied. in its central position. The bar is curved upwardly slightly toward its center,and nearly over the center of the axle a yoke is formed, in which is j ournalcd an antifriction wheel, D, adapted in size to be acted upon by the cam drum or cylinder when the machine is moved-that is, its size should be such that as the shoulder b passes under it toward the front it will fall and rest squarely upon the cylindrical portion 4, and thus keep the bar from resting at any time upon the cam-drum.

The rise and fall of the rear end of the bar C is utilized, in the manner now to be described, to operate the cutter or chopper. Bearings 9 10 are formed on the rear bar and cross-bar, a, respectively, for a rock-shaft, d, to which is attached the chopping-blade E by means of screws passing through the slots in the arms 11 11 of the blade. The rock-shaft extends longitudinally in the direction of the drill, as does also the chopping-blade, the latter being of sufficient length to make the desired width of cut, and capable of vertical adjustment (by the means above referred to) for.

making different lengths and depths of cuts. The rock-shaft has a stud projecting from its side, which is connected pivotally to a similar stud on the bar by the link 12, as shown clearly in the drawings, so that as the rear end of the bar rises and falls its movements will be communicated to the rock-shaft, and a reciprocating motion imparted to the chopping-blade.

Supposing the machine to be in position and the bar to be at its lowest point of movementthat is, the wheel D resting upon the cylindrical portion 4 of the cam-drum, the chopping-blade then being at the limit of its leftward stroke, and consequently to the left of the row to be cut-as the machine moves forward, the cylindrical surface 4 will pass beneath the anti-friction roller without acting upon it further than to rotate it, and during this time the blade E is at rest, and a portion of the cotton is being left untouched; but as the inclined section begins to pass under the roller the bar will begin to rise and to rock the shaft, which will cause the chopping-blade to move to the right and engage with the cotton, this rightward movement continuing until the shoulder 11 passes under the roller,when the weight of the lever will exert itself and cause the lever to fall, returning the blade by a quick stroke to the left and the roller to rest upon the portion 4:. The bar 0 may be made of metal or wood, of sufiicient weight to insure theperfect operation of the machine; or weights may be used upon the bar, if it is found desirable, the anti-friction roller being utilized to some extent for this purpose.

By arranging the shaft (1 transversely of the frame, and using connections with the lever similar to those described above, the choppingblade will reciprocate in the direction in which the machine is moving; or the reciprocation of the chopping or cutting blade may be made vertical by having the bearings of the part marked d rectangular, and fitted snugly to vertical slots in the frame, and using the same link-connection.

Shovels f f are attached to the side bars upon either side of the machine and in front of the chopping-blade, for the usual purpose of acting as cultivators.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a cotton-chopper,and in combination, a lever pivoted at one end, means for reciprocating vertically the lever, a rock-shaft earrying a chopping-blade, and suitable connections between the rock-shaft and the free end of the lever, all substantially as described.

2. In a cotton-chopper, and in combination, a lever reciprocating vertically, a rockshaft arranged longitudinally of the machine, or inthe direction of its motion, a cutting or chopping blade attached to the rock-shaft, and

suitable connections between the said shaft and the lever, all substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a cottoirchopper, and in combination RICHARD LEE \VAE'IHEN.

\Vitnesses:

LINTON S. VEAL, JEFFERSON A. IRWIN. 

